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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanon's army chief tries again to please pro-Syrian opposition |
| 2007-09-07 |
| Two weeks ago Lebanon's army chief General Michel Suleiman tied to clear Syria's name from any affiliation with Fatah al-Islam to please the Hezbollah-led pro-Syrian opposition. Today General Suleiman did it again by saying that the army victory in Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp against the Fatah al-Islam terrorists is a continuation of Hezbollah's victory in the July war against Israel. Hezbollah declared at the end of the war that it won and called it a 'divine victory.' Suleiman's declaration will sure again please Hezbollah and all the pro-Syrian allies , despite the fact that the majority of the Lebanese strongly feel that Lebanon was the biggest loser in the July 2006 war, since 1280 Lebanese were killed against 160 Israelis, over 1 million Lebanese were displaced and 110,000 homes were destroyed...add to this the devastation to the infrastructure and the Lebanese economy. Suleiman's timing is also very significant , since the pro-Syrian opposition has called for a consensus on the president that will replace Emile Lahoud, before the election day ( September 25) set by Speaker Nabih Berri. Suleiman's name has been mentioned on different occasions as a consensus candidate but surely his last statement about the alleged victory of Hezbollah will not go well with the anti-Syrian majority and many may accuse him of being pro-Syrian and thereby eliminate him as a candidate. The last thing the parliament majority needs is another Emile Lahoud , whose aim is to please Syria at Lebanon's expense and whom the Syrian president calls " my personal representative in Lebanon". In any case in order to consider Suleiman as a candidate the Lebanese constitution has to be amended, a move that the March 14 allies consider to be very unlikely. Usually government employees and Suleiman is one, have to resign 2 years prior to running for presidential post according to the constitution. |
| Posted by:Fred |